Norway will not take upon itself replacing Russian gas in Europe

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Norway will not be able to significantly increase gas deliveries to Europe, if purchase of Russian gas is reduced, said Norwegian Minister of Oil Industry and Energy Tord Ljen.

“We will, probably, increase gas production in the near future, but it will not be a significant increase,” Minister said in his interview to German Handelsblatt. He added that Russia is a reliable gas supplier, but in the future EU will be able to increase purchase of fuel in the US and Africa, owing to expansion of the capacities for LNG reception.

“If the prices are fair, the supply will be appropriate. But gas liquefaction and its offshore transportation will cost more, than gas transportation via the pipelines, Ljen said. By 2020 Norway plans to increase gas production up to 130 billion cub.m. a year from 110 billion cub.m. in 2012. Majority of Norwegian gas is delivered to Europe via the pipelines.